If you are in need of having a tooth filled, either due to a cavity or another issue that has caused deterioration of a portion of your tooth, then you may be wondering if you should opt for a tooth colored filling, or if it’s just better to stick with traditional silver amalgam fillings. If you’re in the process of trying to weigh the pros and cons of tooth colored filling, you’ve come to the right place! Here we’ll highlight some of the primary benefits and drawbacks to choosing these types of dental fillings.
Benefits:
The best place to start is with the benefits offered by tooth colored filling, since for the most part, they outweigh the drawbacks. Among the benefits you can expect when you choose these fillings are:
- Improved aesthetics – The biggest benefit to selecting tooth colored filling is the fact that these fillings are designed to almost identically match your existing teeth. This means that your smile still looks as good as always, even though you may have a fillings in your tooth, because the material used to fill the tooth is virtually indistinguishable from the natural tooth material in your mouth.
- Strength and Durability – Most people know that those silver and gold colored fillings that have long been a mainstay of dentistry are strong and durable, lasting a dozen years or more. But, the good news is that even though tooth colored filling are made from a completely different type of material, they are also a strong and durable option for those that require fillings in their teeth. In fact, because they are bonded more securely to the enamel and dentin of the teeth, they can provide an even stronger option for restoring decayed teeth.
- Replace Decay and Damage – Whether you opt for a dental filling that is made to match the rest of the teeth in your mouth, or you decide instead to choose a silver amalgam fillings, you can rest assured that the tooth filling material does what it is supposed to do. This job requires that the filling material replace the natural tooth material that is gone or that has to be removed because it is decayed or damaged. By filling the space left by the removal of the damaged tooth material, dental fillings can stop additional damage from occurring and can protect the sensitive dentin and nerves within the tooth.
Drawbacks:
- Cost – The biggest drawback that is cited for selecting tooth colored filling over their amalgam counterparts is the cost. These fillings will cost you more, but most patients agree that the added cost is worth the increased benefits. This fact is so true that many people with amalgam fillings from prior dental work in their mouths opt to have the fillings replaced with tooth colored fillings, even if there is nothing wrong with their existing fillings. Doing so provides improved aesthetic results that many will argue are worth the cost.
The process of having a tooth colored filling placed in the mouth is relatively easy. This procedure can be completed in just one office visit and requires that the decayed portion of the tooth, or an existing filling that is being replaced, be removed. The area is then cleaned, dried and prepared for the new filling. The composite material is matched to existing tooth coloring, is bonded to the tooth using a strong, permanent bonding agent, and then is then dried under a light. The result is a strong, durable and long lasting filling that doesn’t even look like it’s there.
For more information about dental fillings in Queens, contact Park Dental Care today at 718-Dentist. Queens residents, as well as those located throughout metropolitan NYC, will find that we are conveniently located near the N & Q subway lines at the Astoria-Ditmars Blvd. station. Let us help you keep your smile healthy and your teeth strong!
